Brighton & Hove Albion enjoyed their first top-flight win since 1983 after a superb performance against previously undefeated West Bromwich Albion at the Amex.

Having waited 34 years for a top-flight goal, Seagulls fans celebrated two in three minutes either side of the break thanks to German midfielder Pascal Gross.

A close-range finish to make it 1-0 at the break was followed by a second from outside the box that gave Albion a valuable cushion early in the second half.

Gross then turned provider after 63 minutes when his cross was headed in at the near post by Tomer Hemed. James Morrison came off the bench to pull one back for West Brom, but the home defence stood firm in the closing stages to make sure Albion and their fans in a crowd of 30,381 could celebrate three Premier League points.

Chris Hughton had named the same starting XI that picked up a point at Watford last time out and Albion were on the front foot from the start, backed by a vociferous full house.

Solly March had an early sight of goal but volleyed over. However, he was on target in the 12th minute when Ben Foster spilled his shot from outside the box and Shane Duffy swept it home, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against the defender.

Anthony Knockaert was next to try his luck from distance but Foster got behind his 25-yarder before the visitors threatened for the first time on 22 minutes when Gareth Barry, who started his career in Albion’s youth set-up, shot well over when a free kick broke to him on the edge of the box.

Solid and well-organised, West Brom showed why they had started the season so well. Albion needed to be patient to open up spaces and they did so when a good move down the right ended with Dale Stephens clipping his effort over the bar.

Maty Ryan was forced into his first save six minutes before the break when he pushed out Barry’s volley but Albion ended the half strongly. Knockaert hit one with his left foot a yard over the target before they deservedly broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.

March worked some space to cross from the left and Gross took a touch before firing low into the right-hand corner from six yards. The Amex erupted and Albion had a precious advantage.

Two minutes after the break it was 2-0 – and Gross was again on target. Hemed did superbly to pick him out and, as West Brom’s defence retreated, the midfielder needed no invitation to let fly from 20 yards and his low shot flew past Foster into the bottom left-hand corner.

Albion had their tails up and only some tremendous reflexes by Foster to keep out Duffy’s far post header denied them another goal in the 58th minute.

Five minutes later, though, it was 3-0. Gross was the creator this time, whipping over a great cross at pace from the left. Hemed cleverly stole in front of his marker and his glancing header beat Foster at the near post.

The visitors pushed men forward in an attempt to salvage something with Scotland international Oliver Burke a real danger down their right.

They pulled one back in the 77th minute when their two substitutes combined with Burke heading a cross into the path of Morrison, who swept it home from close range, despite Duffy’s efforts to clear it off the line.

It made the closing stages more fraught than they should have been for Albion fans and Ryan pulled off a good save in stoppage time to deny Morrison, but on the balance of play Albion richly deserved the three points.